Environmentally controlled appliance enclosure
An environmentally controlled appliance enclosure includes an enclosed spacer and a heater assembly positioned within the spacer. A heater unit and a fan are secured to the heater assembly. A mounting plate is positioned on the assembly mount and an appliance is secured to the mounting plate. A cover is secured to the spacer to enclose the appliance. Once sealed, the heater unit and fan of the heater assembly operate to maintain a uniform temperature within the enclosure.
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to an appliance enclosure. More particularly, the invention concerns an appliance enclosure having a heater assembly that maintains a uniform temperature within the enclosure.
2. Reference to Related Art
Appliances such as emergency horns and strobe lights and the covers for those appliances are well known in the art. For example, the STI-1210 Series horn and strobe enclosures manufactured by Safety Technology, Inc. of Waterford, Mich., are known to include a spacer that may be mounted on a wall or similar surface and a transparent plastic cover that is secured to the spacer. A gasket may be provided in a joint between the spacer and cover to provide a waterproof seal.
Another commercially available product is the FARADAY® Model 2705 weatherproof strobe. This device uses a waterproof backbox for waterproof applications.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,320,949 is directed to a weatherized housing assembly for a camera. The weatherized housing includes a unitary plastic molded opaque housing that is generally shaped in the form of a frusto-conical inverted cup. A camera is positioned in the housing and a cover or dome is secured to the housing to enclose the camera. A fan is secured to an opening in the housing. Furthermore, a pair of electrical resistance heaters is positioned within the housing. If the temperature in the housing becomes too high, the fan is activated and circulates the air within the housing. If the temperature within the housing approaches freezing, a thermostatic switch in the housing is closed to energize the heaters to heat the air within the housing. Finally, a lamp can be provided on the exterior of the housing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is directed to an environmentally controlled appliance enclosure. The enclosure includes an enclosed spacer and a heater assembly positioned within the spacer. A heater unit(s) and fan are secured to the heater assembly. An appliance, such as a strobe light, is secured to an appliance mounting plate that is affixed to the heater assembly. Finally, a transparent plastic cover is secured to the spacer to thereby enclose the appliance. Once sealed, the heater unit(s) and fan of the heater assembly operate to maintain a uniform temperature within the enclosure.
Particularly preferred applications for the present invention include, but are not limited to, refrigerators, freezers, meat packaging plants, arctic environments, ocean rigs, slaughterhouses, etc. The enclosure of the present invention will also advantageously prevent build up of snow or the entry of moisture in wash-down areas to assure that the appliance (particularly strobes) remains clearly visible.
A better understanding of the present invention will be had upon reference to the attached drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout and wherein:
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A cutout 80 in the appliance mounting plate 20 is shaped to accept and be securable around the support plate 52 of the heater assembly 14. A warning label 82 or similar indicia may be provided on the appliance mounting plate 20 so as to provide information to the user (e.g., installation/repair dates). A low temperature thermostat 76 is positioned on one side of the appliance mounting plate. As best shown in
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It should be understood that the invention encompasses various modifications and alternative forms of embodiments. It should also be understood that these specific embodiments are not intended to limit the invention, but are intended to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the scope of the claims.
Claims
1. An environmentally controlled appliance enclosure comprising:
- a spacer;
- a cover secured to the spacer;
- a gasket positioned between the spacer and the cover, the spacer, the cover and the gasket defining an enclosed area that is sealed from an external environment;
- a heater assembly positioned within the enclosed area, the heater assembly including a heater, a fan, a high voltage circuit electrically connected to the heater and a low voltage circuit electrically connected to the fan, the heater assembly being operable to maintain a uniform temperature within the enclosed area; and
- an appliance positioned within the enclosed area.
2. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein said spacer is an enclosed spacer.
3. The enclosure of claim 2, wherein said enclosed spacer includes a circular base and a wall extending from said circular base.
4. The enclosure of claim 3, further comprising a pair of conduit connectors and the wall extending from the circular base defining a pair of apertures, each conduit connector being secured to the wall in alignment with one aperture of the pair of apertures.
5. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the appliance is a light emitting device.
6. The enclosure of claim 5, wherein the light emitting device is a strobe light.
7. The enclosure of claim 1 wherein the cover is transparent.
8. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the gasket comprises a neoprene gasket.
9. The enclosure of claim 1, further comprising a thermostat positioned within the enclosed area that is operable to activate the heater.
10. The enclosure of claim 9, wherein the thermostat comprises a low temperature thermostat.
11. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the heater comprises a silicone laminate heater.
12. The enclosure of claim 1, further comprising a high voltage terminal block secured to the heater assembly.
13. The enclosure of claim 1 further comprising a low voltage terminal block secured to the heater assembly.
14. An environmentally controlled appliance enclosure comprising:
- a spacer;
- a cover secured to the spacer;
- a gasket positioned between the spacer and the cover, the spacer, the cover and the gasket defining an enclosed area that is sealed from an external environment;
- a heater assembly positioned within the enclosed area, the heater assembly including a heater, a fan, a high voltage circuit and a low voltage circuit;
- an appliance mounting plate positioned on the heater assembly; and
- an appliance positioned on the appliance mounting plate.
15. The enclosure of claim 14, wherein the spacer is an enclosed spacer.
16. The enclosure of claim 15, wherein the enclosed spacer includes a circular base and a wall extending from the circular base.
17. The enclosure of claim 16, further comprising a pair of conduit connectors and the wall extending from the circular base defining a pair of apertures, each conduit connector being secured to the wall in alignment with one aperture of the pair of apertures.
18. The enclosure of claim 17, wherein the appliance is a light emitting device.
19. The enclosure of claim 18, wherein the light emitting device is a strobe light.
20. The enclosure of claim 14, wherein the cover is transparent.
21. The enclosure of claim 14, wherein the gasket comprises a neoprene gasket.
22. The enclosure of claim 14, further comprising a thermostat positioned within the enclosed area that is operable to activate the heater.
23. The enclosure of claim 22, wherein the thermostat comprises a low temperature thermostat.
24. The enclosure of claim 14, wherein the heater comprises a silicone laminate heater.
25. The enclosure of claim 14, further comprising a fuse positioned on the appliance mounting plate and electrically connected to the high voltage circuit.
26. The enclosure of claim 14, further comprising a high voltage terminal block secured to the heater assembly.
27. The enclosure of claim 14, further comprising a low voltage terminal block secured to the heater assembly.
28. An environmentally controlled appliance enclosure comprising:
- a spacer;
- a cover secured to the spacer;
- a gasket positioned between the spacer and the cover, the spacer, the cover and the gasket defining an enclosed area that is sealed off from an external environment;
- a heater assembly positioned within the enclosed area, the heater assembly including a heater, a fan, high voltage circuit and a low voltage circuit, the heater assembly being operable to maintain a uniform temperature within the enclosed area;
- a thermostat electrically connected to the heater assembly; and
- an appliance positioned with the enclosed area.
29. The enclosure of claim 28, wherein the spacer is an enclosed spacer.
30. The enclosure of claim 29, wherein the enclosed spacer includes a circular base and a wall extending from the circular base.
31. The enclosure of claim 30, further comprising a pair of conduit connectors and the wall extending from the circular base defining a pair of apertures, each conduit connector being secured to the wall in alignment with one aperture of the pair of apertures.
32. The enclosure of claim 28, wherein the appliance is a light emitting device.
33. The enclosure of claim 32, wherein the light emitting device is a strobe light.
34. The enclosure of claim 28, wherein the cover is transparent.
35. The enclosure of claim 28, wherein the gasket comprises a neoprene gasket.
36. The enclosure of claim 28, wherein the thermostat comprises a low temperature thermostat.
37. The enclosure of claim 28, wherein the heater comprises a silicone laminate heater.
38. The enclosure of claim 28, further comprising a high voltage terminal block secured to the heater assembly.
39. The enclosure of claim 28, further comprising a low voltage terminal block secured to the heater assembly.
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- Technical Data Bulletin SL 30198 CHEMETRON Fire Systems-Alarm Strobe Light-Mar. 1998 amseco—american security equipment company—SAD24-75110—Jan., 2002 FA/S-62 Models 623x/625x DC Mechanical Horns & Horn Strobes—May, 1999 STI-1229HTR / STI-HK2—Inst. Sht. 1229HTR IS—Aug., 2002.
Type: Grant
Filed: Nov 14, 2002
Date of Patent: Jun 7, 2005
Patent Publication Number: 20040095747
Assignee: Safety Technology International, Inc. (Waterford, MI)
Inventor: John D. Taylor (Waterford, MI)
Primary Examiner: Sandra O'Shea
Assistant Examiner: Guiyoung Lee
Attorney: Gifford, Krass, Groh, Sprinkle, Anderson & Citkowski, P.C.
Application Number: 10/294,161